3 Days Ago

UBC to ‘surrender redundant frequency’ to Parliament Radio

When we contacted UBC’s managing director, Ms Winston Agaba for a comment on the matter, he said as the national broadcaster, they would be excited to work with Parliament. FILE PHOTO

By NELSON WESONGA

In Summary

Different view. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (2016), the main source of information for 55.2 per cent, up from 49.2 per cent of Ugandans is radio

Radio is followed by word of mouth as the main source of information for 18.7 per cent of Ugandans, For 7.2 per cent, it is television, 7.3 per cent through the Internet, while at least 2.1 per cent rely on print media.

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KAMPALA. Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) executive director Godfrey Mutabazi has said Parliament’s planned radio station will broadcast on one of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC’s) ‘redundant’ frequencies.This is because all frequencies on the frequency modulation spectrum for Kampala are taken.

“For Parliament radio…[since] UBC…had redundant frequencies, we said ‘surrender a frequency or two to Parliament’,” said Mr Mutabazi in Kampala.Mr Mutabazi was responding to a question by the chairperson of the House Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Ms Annet Nyakecho.Ms Nyakecho had said UCC had not yet granted Parliament a licence for the House radio.

“Up to now, our radio station is not yet operational. I wish UCC could expedite [the licensing],” Ms Nyakecho had said. She added: “Honourable minister [of ICT Frank Tumwebaze] please help; Parliament needs a radio frequency. The [studio] is ready.”In response, Mr Tumwebaze said the Parliamentary Commission should keep its side of the bargain.

“The Parliamentary Commission is a department; it must meet its obligations. It must fulfill the basic requirements, it must pay us fees,” he said.When we contacted UBC’s managing director, Ms Winston Agaba for a comment on the matter, he said as the national broadcaster, they would be excited to work with Parliament.However, he added: “To start with, we do not have any redundant frequencies.

We have an MoU with Parliament. As the national broadcaster, we will be looking forward to having them [Parliament] on our airwaves. If there are any other developments, we shall engage…”Mr Agaba said UBC would be looking forward to broadcasting parliamentary news.In February, this newspaper, quoting Parliament’s director for communication, Mr Chris Obore, reported that Parliament needs a radio station to supplement other private media’s coverage of Parliament.

Sources of information

Different view. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (2016), the main source of information for 55.2 per cent, up from 49.2 per cent of Ugandans is radioRadio is followed by word of mouth as the main source of information for 18.7 per cent of Ugandans, For 7.2 per cent, it is television, 7.3 per cent through the Internet, while at least 2.1 per cent rely on print media.